Indian Elephant

132

The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is one of three extant recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, native to mainland Asia. The species is smaller than the African elephant species with a convex back and the highest body point on its head. The male reaching an average shoulder height of about 3.2 m (10 ft) and weighing up to 5,400 kg (11,900 lb) whereas a female reaches an average shoulder height of about 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) and weighs up to 4,160 kg (9,170 lb). The Indian elephant is native to mainland Asia with nearly three-fourth of the population found in India. The species is also found in other countries of the Indian subcontinent including Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and South East Asian countries including Thailand. It inhabits grasslands, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests across the range. They feed mainly on grasses, but large amounts of tree bark, roots, leaves and small stems are also eaten. Cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane are favored foods as well. Since they need to drink at least once a day, these elephants are always close to a source of fresh water.

Bengal Tiger

118

The bengal tiger is the king of India, the real king of the jungle. While some 2,000–2,500 remain in the wild, several thousand more are thought to reside in zoos and private reserves around the world. The largest male Bengal tigers can grow up to about 3.2 metres (10.5 feet) long (including a 1-metre- [3.3-foot-] long tail) and weigh nearly 295 kg (about 650 pounds). Conservation status: Endangered (Population decreasing) Mass: 440 – 570 lbs (Male, Adult), 220 – 350 lbs (Female, Adult) Scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris Hunting and diet, The Bengal tiger is a carnivore and prefers hunting large ungulates such as gaur, sambar, chital, barasingha, water buffalo, nilgai, serow and takin. Medium-sized prey includes wild boar, Indian hog deer, Indian muntjac and northern plains gray langur. Litter: 2-4 tiger cubs.

Indian Peacock

86

The Indian peacock, also known as the peacock, is a brightly colored bird native to India and Sri Lanka. Appearance: Male peacocks are known for their iridescent tail feathers, which can grow up to 5 ft long and fan out in a display of brilliant colors. The tail feathers actually grow from the peacock's back, not its tail. Species: P. cristatus. Mass: 8.8 – 13 lbs (Male, Adult), 6.1 – 8.8 lbs (Female, Adult). Term for young: chick, peachick. Indian peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals, and reptiles. They feed on small snakes, but keep their distance from larger ones. The natural enemies of Indian blue peafowl are large cats like bengal tigers (Panthera tigris), and indian leopards (Panthera pardus). Wild dogs like dholes (Cuon alpines) and jackals (Canis aureus) are also considered to be main predators. Male peacocks fan their tail feathers and making loud calls to attract female peahens.

Chital Deer

67

Chital deer, also known as spotted deer or axis deer, is a medium-sized, highly social deer native to the Indian subcontinent. Appearance: Chital has reddish-brown coats with white spots, white underbellies, and white throats and ears. Males are larger than females and have lyre-shaped antlers with three prongs that can grow up to 90 cm long. Behavior: Chital form small herds led by adult females and their offspring, and larger breeding herds. Grazers as well as browsers, the chital mainly feed on grasses throughout the year. They prefer young shoots, in the absence of which tall and coarse grasses are nibbled off at the tips. One of the major threats to the Axis deer population is natural predators such as tigers, leopards, and wild dogs. On the other hand, deforestation and subsequent loss of habitat also lead to the decline of the population.

Indian Rhinoceros

35

The Indian rhinoceros, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros, great Indian rhinoceros or Indian rhino, is a species of rhinoceros found in the Indian subcontinent. It is the second largest living rhinoceros species, with adult males weighing 2.07–2.2 t and adult females 1.6 t. Indian rhinos are grazers, meaning the bulk of their diet is made up of grasses. They have a prehensile lip that allows them to grasp plants and bite accurately. In addition to grasses, greater one-horned rhinos will also eat leaves, branches from shrubs and trees, and various fruits. Due to it's large size, the Indian rhino's only real predator in the wild are large wild cats such as tigers that will prey on the Indian rhino calves and weak individuals. The Indian rhino's scientific name is Rhinoceros unicornis. The total Indian rhinoceros population was estimated to be 4,014 individuals, up from 2,577. Among them, 3,262 are in India and the remaining 752 are in Nepal and Bhutan. Their segmented hide looks like a formidable coat of natural body armor. It functions a bit like one also: Flexible skin between the thicker hide “plates” allows them to shift as the rhinoceros moves.

Indian Nilgai

21

The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), also known as the blue bull, is the largest antelope in Asia. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan. Nilgai are known for their unique appearance, including a long neck, bony head, barrel chest, and a hock-length tail with a black tuft. Males are darker, with a bluish gray coat, while females and juveniles are orange or tawny. The Indian nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) eats a variety of plants, including grasses, herbs, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits. In India, the Bengal tiger and Asiatic lion prey on the nilgai but they are not significant predators of this antelope. Leopards also prey on the nilgai, though they prefer smaller prey. Dholes generally attack juveniles.

Indian Gaur

26

The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a large, wild ox native to Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. It's the world's largest wild cattle species and one of the biggest land mammals alive. Appearance: Gaur have a broad forehead, short, thick, curved horns, and a high ridge on their foreback. Bulls are dark brown or black, while cows and young are reddish brown. Both males and females have horns and white "stockings" on their legs. Geographical Spread: While there are around 13 to 30 thousand gaurs around 85% are present in India. Found in the reserved areas of Wayanad-Mudumalai-Bandipur-Nagarhole. Prevalent in Western Ghats' evergreen and moist deciduous forests. The results have shown that the diet of gaur consisted of diverse species of plants (49 species). On an average, grass comprises a major proportion (66%), followed by browse (25%) and herb and others (5%). Due to their size and power, gaur have few natural predators besides humans. Leopards, dhole packs and large mugger crocodiles occasionally attack unguarded calves or unhealthy animals. Only tigers and saltwater crocodiles have been reported to kill adult gaur.

Sambar Deer

26

Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) are large, strong, and adaptable animals native to India, Nepal, Southeast Asia, and South China. Sambar are herbivores, eating various grasses, foliage, fruits, leaves, water plants, herbs, buds, berries, bamboo, stems, and bark, as well as a wide range of shrubs and trees. The tiger is said to even mimic the call of the sambar to deceive it while hunting. They also can be taken by crocodiles, mostly the sympatric mugger crocodiles and saltwater crocodiles. Leopards and dholes largely prey on only young or sickly deer, though they can attack healthy adults as well.

Indian Blackbuck

13

The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), also known as the Indian antelope, is a medium-sized antelope native to India and Nepal. They are known for their speed and elegant spiraling horns, which can grow up to 65 cm long in mature males. Appearance: Males have dark brown coats, white underparts, and distinctive white markings around their eyes, ears, chin, and rump. Females and juveniles are fawn in color with white underparts. Blackbuck preferred to graze on short to midlength grasses but also browse on common brush species. Forage selection is primarily determined by availability, with sedges, fall witchgrass, mesquite, and live oak commonly eaten. Blackbuck antelope have many predators in the wild, including tigers, jackals, dholes, and leopards.

Sloth Bear

22

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a distinctive bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. Appearance: Sloth bears are known for their shaggy black coats, long snouts, and white V-shaped chest markings. They have long, curved claws for digging into termite mounds and foraging in trees. Diet: Primarily ants and termites, but also eggs, insects, honeycombs, carrion, and vegetation. If threatened, they will stand on two legs, brandishing their clawed forepaws as weapons. Their large canines are used for defense against tigers.

Dhole

17

The dhole, also known as the Asiatic wild dog or whistling dog, is a rare and endangered wild canine native to Central, South, and Southeast Asia. They are hypercarnivores that hunt in packs of 3–5 individuals to take down large prey like deer or wild cattle. Appearance: Dholes are similar in size to coyotes, but have a fox-like appearance with long legs and a bushy tail. The scientific name of the dhole is Cuon alpinus. The dhole eats wild berries, insects, and lizards. Packs of dholes feast on mammals ranging from rodents to deer. Some of the dhole's favorites include wild pigs, hares, wild goats, sheep, and occasionally a monkey. Dholes do not have any natural predators, but they do share their habitats with tigers and leopards, and conflict can happen between these species. When threatened, dholes pack up in strength in numbers to draw both tigers and leopards away from ther dens. The dhole is a highly social animal, living in large packs without rigid dominance hierarchies. Such packs usually consist of 12 individuals, but large groups of over 40 are known.

Langur Monkey

11

The langur monkey is a genus of Old World monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent, with most species known as gray langurs. They are characterized by light-colored fur with darker limbs and backs, and black faces, hands, ears, and feet. Adults range from 17.8–30.9 in long, excluding the tail, which can be 31.6–44 in long. Males weigh 37–43 lbs, while females weigh 21–35 lbs. The langur monkey primary diet was leaves, revealed that they have started to develop a taste for urban processed food items such as bread, processed peanuts. Predators of gray langurs include leopards (Panthera pardus), dholes (Cuon alpinus) and tigers (P. tigris), not to mention golden jackals (Canis aureus).